Several decades ago, many residents participated in local government with harmony

Published
6:27 pm EDT, Thursday, July 13, 2017

One of the most pronounced changes in Norwalk over recent decades is the marked decline in well-qualified citizens from seeking public service. Poorly attended public meetings reflect the changes too.

Some three or four decades ago several hundred citizens — Democrats, Republicans, Independents — actively participated in city governance. And did so for the most part with considerable courtesy. The unwritten rule was that each party would serve for a few terms. Acrimony was relatively uncommon and members of both parties often socialized with each other.

Many of those active were local small business owners here for generations. Most are long gone in a city where increasingly residents commute long hours to New York City. And problems in D.C. and failure of our legislators to pass a state budget are certainly discouraging.

In another decade, all those who remember the “Old Norwalk” — the state’s most diversified, well-functioning city with active governance — will be gone.

Hopefully, that admirable legacy will be rediscovered. And memories of elected officials suing the city while running for mayor or charging a Board of Education with discrimination will be long forgotten.